Japanese word

税関

Pronunciation

Romajizeikan

Meaning

  • nouncustoms

Example

この荷物は税関を通りました。ko no ni motsu wa zei kan o tō ri ma shi ta

This package went through customs.

Illustration for 税関 (customs)

More examples

帰国した私は空港の税関で荷物を申告しました。ki koku shi ta watashi wa kū kō no zei kan de ni motsu o shin koku shi ma shi ta

When I returned home, I declared my luggage at customs.

Core concept

Refers to the government service and facilities that inspect goods entering or leaving a country and handle import duties.

Common phrases

  • 税関を通るzei kan o tō ru

    go through customs

  • 税関で申告するzei kan de shin koku su ru

    declare at customs

Definition in Japanese

輸出入される貨物を調べ、関税を徴収する国の機関やその施設。yu shutsu nyū sa re ru ka motsu o shira be kan zei o chō shū su ru kuni no ki kan ya so no shi setsu

Word origin

税 (zei, "tax") + 関 (kan, "barrier") describes a gate where taxes on goods are checked and collected.

Usage tips

  • In English, customs usually appears without an article when it means the government service, as in go through customs, while a customs house is a building.

Other meanings

  • customs housenoun

Word lists with this word